Adjustable line-predetermining device for type-writers.



PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906 ADJUSTABLE LINE PREDETBRMINING DEVICE FOR TYBE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1904.

I To all whom it may concern:

UNITED ST ES PATENT O FIOE CHRISTOPHER A. SHEA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, Assie on TO 'UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY. I

ADJUSTABLE LlNE-PREDETERMINING DEVICEFOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 20, 1906.

Application filed May 21, 1904. Serial Ito-209,074.-

Be itknown that I, CHRISTOPHER A. SHEA,

a citizen-of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and 1 justing a signal in a type-writer so the oper- State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements' in Adjust able Line-Predetermining Devices for Type- Writers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to means for adator will be notified when the sheet of paper haspassed a predetermined position.

The object of my invention is to relieve the operator of the mental care or tax in watchmg for the'end of the paper sheet, or the po- I sit on' of the paper immediately after print- ,as to vary this predetermination.

ing the last desired line of a page and topredetermine the position of the line with respect to the bottom of the paper sheet, as Well It consists, 1n combination. of the paperfeeding roller of the machine, of a graduated indicator, a paper-contact and a hand-controlled partcarr g aguide with a point to regulate the incfi slting. The said point is rlgidly connected with the paper-contact, and

that will remain unprinted after a visual indlcator has signaled the operator of the passa e of the paper be 0nd the said contact. n the drawings 'ke-parts are referred to by marks of a corresponding kind in the different views.

Fi ure 1 is a part vertical section taken lon gitu inally on the roller and a part side elevation of the same. Fig. 2 is an end view and part diagram. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section through the'platen-roller ofzthe machine. Fig. 4 is a plan of the indicator. Figs. 5 and 6 are modifications.

In Fig. 1' the signal is a glow-lamp in. an electrical circuit which is controlled by the paper and predetermined b my device. In

igs. 5 and 6 the same resu t is accomplished by mechanicalmovements entirely.

' A is the platen-roller of a type-Writer, B the shaft that carries it. A I

C 1s an insulated shaft encoilingmemberheld topthe frame T of the machine. This frame. itwill be understood, is the carriage an arc-shaped indicator fixed to the frame.

T. This indicator carries numerals, preferably on its upper face; but they could be located on the side radially disposed.

' ais a standard carried rigldly by the controller D. This standard pivotally supports the carrying-arm If for the roller H and a counterweight J for adjustment.

In Figs. 1 and. 2, S and S are paper-feed wheels or belt-carrying wheels for paper-support, as is common in type-writers. m and n are the line conductors of an electrical circuit, 1' a-battery, and p a glow-lamp. This lamp is located at some position where the operator can readily see it. K (shown only in Fig. 1) is a conductor leadin from the metallic ring G to the shaft B and is designed to groun the circuit. The arrows indicate the flow of the current. The platen-wheel A is an insulator. The ring G is inset in the circumfer ence of the said wheel and is a conductor.

The conductor for the circuit is then made u of the roller H, ring G, shaft B, standard wires n and-m, battery 1", lamp 1), and contact K. Now paper bein a non-conductor as long as it is interpose between the roller H and the ring G the circuit is 0 en and the lamp is out but the moment th e paper has passed the contact-point of the roller H with the platen A the contact is closed and the lam is aglow. to t e operator that the paper has passed its predetermined point, and therefore the operator will know how many blank lines have been left. In Fig. 2 I show a series-of radial lines numbered, respectively, 1 2 3 4. These lines indicate the numerals on the face of the arc-shaped indicator f, as shown in Fig. 4.

The numerals further predetermine the. po si.

tion of the handle E, and therefore the position] for the roller H. The line 0 is the typeim rinting line on the roller, and when the r01 er is on this line the paper is printed to its limit. When, however, it stands at line 1 the This will at once indicate.

circuit will be closed one line from the bottom of the sheet; when at 2, two lines from the bottom of the sheet; when at 3, three lines from the bottom of the sheet, and so on. As already explained, on the closing of the circuit the lamp will glow and the operator will know the sheet has passed the predetermined point.

The modification shown in Fig. 3, also 5, accomplishes the same result as that described; but instead of an electrical circuit and glow-lamp I use a shutter V, Fig. 5, only,

visual or audible sign and instead of a metallic disk G, I use a circumferential groove G in the roller A. When the paper is in the machine, the said roller H is oscillated, so' its center takes the position shown by line It, and the arm t takes the position shown by the line t; but the moment the paper has passed the point predetermined by the setting of the handle E and finger e, as already explained, the said roller will dro into the groove G, and throu h the action of the weight 3' this will swing the arm t to the position indicated by the solid drawing Fig. 5, and in this position the indicator will show the word out at the shutter V. This will indicate to the operator that the predetermined point has been reached.

The modification shown in Fig. 6 contemplates a vertical movement of the indi-- cator.

Although I show a glow-lamp, any other a may be used. The

wheel H and counterweight J are specifically used, for the reason that there will always be an even pressure exerted on the roller H, whether one sheet of paper or several manifold. sheets be passing through the rollers, the roller permitting of the several sheets to pass through evenly. If a brush-contact were used, it would hold back the last few sheets, allowing .the others to go through. This would cause uneven writing.

The edges of the roller are rounded OH to permit'of the paper being moved sidewise in and out from under it, very often required when it is desired to place one or more letters on a line to the extreme left or right. The part C, while it encoils the shaft B,-is not supposed to contact therewith. Instead of having the part C insulated I could insulate the part I) or other parts of the device to attain the same end. In practice the handle E could be placed to the left of the arch, so that the entire swing of the said arch may be had, the standard A remaining as shown.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In atype-Writin machine, the combination with a revolubIe platen and a platen frame, of a device adjustable about the platen-axis, a part pivoted upon said adjustable device and running upon the platen or paper thereon, means cooperating with said pivoted part to make a signal when said pivoted part runs ofi from the paper, and a scale and index, one upon the platen-frame and the other upon said adjustable part for indicating the extent of bottom margin upon the written sheet.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen and a frame in which it is journaled, of a device adjustable concentrically with the platen and having at its lower end a pivoted finger or part for running upon the platen, and at its upper end a handle and index, means cooperating with said finger to indicate when it runs ofi from the paper, and a scale upon the platen-frame to cooperate with said index.

3. In a type-writing machine, thecombination with a platen and a frame in which the platen is journaled, of a device adjustable about the platen-axis, a finger-pivoted uponsaid device and running upon the platen or the paper thereon, and included in an electrical circuit, a signal also included in said circuit, acontact-strip also included in said circuit and encircling the-platen so as to be engageable by said finger,'an index upon said adpustable device, and a scale upon the platen-frame.

4. In a type-writing machine,the combination with a platen and a frame in which the platen is journaled, of a device adjustable about the platen-axis, a finger pivoted upon said device and running u on the platen or the paper thereon, and inc uded in an electrical circuit, a signal also included in said circuit, a contact-strip also included in said circuit and encircling the platen so as to be engageable by said finger, an index upon said adiustable device, and a scale upon the platen-frame, a counterweight for said finger, and an antifriction-roll mounted upon said finger to run upon said contact-strip.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER A. SHEA.

Witnesses:

H. A. HERE, NIorIoLAs J'. REHR. 

